Tiger King is a cultural phenomenon — a true crime documentary so bizarre and compelling that it became the defining show of the early pandemic era. The series follows Joe Exotic, a gun-toting, mullet-sporting zookeeper who bred tigers and ran for political office, and his feud with animal rights activist Carole Baskin.
The series is a portrait of a very specific American subculture: the world of big cat owners, roadside zoos, and exotic animal collectors. Joe Exotic is a character so strange that fiction could not have invented him — a gay polygamist country singer who runs for governor, employs a one-armed man, and may have hired someone to murder his nemesis. His larger-than-life personality drives the series.
Carole Baskin, the big cat rescue operator who became Joe's target, is equally complex. The series investigates the disappearance of her husband, Don Lewis, who vanished in 1997 and was declared dead. The circumstances of his disappearance are suspicious, and the series does not shy away from the allegations against Baskin, which she has consistently denied.
The supporting cast is unforgettable. Doc Antle, a charismatic cult-like figure who seems to control his employees through grooming. John Reinke, the one-legged manager. Saff, Joe's employee and eventual rival. The series is populated with people living on the fringes of society, each with their own story.
Tiger King is essential for true crime fans who appreciate the bizarre and the unexplainable. It's a show about obsession, celebrity, and the strange places the American Dream can lead.